Decoy stabilizer and anchor



Jan. 6, 1942.

F'..P. RIDDELL DECOY STABILIZER AND ANCH-OR Filed Feb. 6, 1941 Patented Jan. 6, 1942 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DECOYSTABILIZER AND ANCHOR Fred P. Riddell, Milwaukee, Wis. Application February 6, 1941, Serial No. 377,617

Claims.

This invention relates to duck decoys and has for its principal object to provide a stabilizer and anchor therefor so that a decoy equipped with the invention will ride smoothly and evenly in the water and not unduly bob or rock or capsize in rough and choppy water.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and novel means for securing the stabilizer and anchor to the bottom of the decoy.

Another object is to provide means in connection with the stabilizer and anchor for collapsing the same and for convenient winding of the anchor line when the decoy is not in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device in folded position and as it would appear attached to a decoy;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an unfolded detached stabilizer and anchor embodying the invention.

The device is primarily intended for association with a duck decoy and accordingly I have illustrated the same as attached to a decoy indicated in dotted lines at I. The device comprises a sheet metal keel plate 2, the opposite ends of which are cut diagonally at about a 45 angle from the lower outer corners thereof to near the upper edge and resulting in a pair of triangularly shaped end pieces 3 and 4 which are bent, one in one direction and the other in the other direction, at substantially right angles to the plate 2, so that their upper surfaces are in the same plane, slightly below the upper edge of the plate. Each of these triangular end pieces is provided with a hole therethrough for screw or bolt attachment to the bottom of the decoy, the upper edge of the plate extending within the slot usually provided in the bottom of decoys.

Intermediate of the ends of the plate 2, but slightly rearwardly of the center thereof is pivotally mounted as at 5 the centerboard vane 6, which is of like sheet material, and which, when not in use is folded up alongside of one end of the device.

The free end of this vane 6 has a V- a U-bend intermediate of its ends, said ends being bent in opposite directions as at H) and normally contacting eaehother, so that when the stabilizer is folded as previously described, and the line wound thereabouts, the bent portion of the anchor may be hooked in one V-shaped end of the stabilizer and the free ends of the anchor forced upon opposite sides of the plate; the resilience of the metal of which the anchor is formed being suflicient to hold the same in position thereon.

From the foregoing it will beevident that I have provided a simple, strong, and effective duck decoy stabilizer and anchor, foldable into a minimum of space,,with no liability of the anchor line becoming tangled, and economical to manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A decoy duck stabilizer and anchor comprising a plate adapted for attachment to the bottom of a decoy and extendable in a plane at right angles thereto, an anchor, frictionally applicable to said plate when not in use, a flexible element connecting said anchor and plate, and a downwardly extendable vane pivoted to said plate and foldable alongside one end thereof.

2. A decoy duck stabilizer and anchor comprising a plate having twisted ends provided with holes for attaching same to the bottom of a decoy, an anchor, a flexible element connecting said anchor and plate, and a vane pivoted to said plate, and foldable alongside one end thereof.

3. A decoy duck stabilizer and anchor comprising a plate having twisted ends provided with means for attaching same to the bottom of a. decoy, an anchor tethered to said plate and frictionally applicable thereto when not in use, and

shaped notch formed therein so that when folded for attachment to the bottom of a decoy, a U

shaped tethered resilient anchor engageable in a notched end and frictionally applicable to opposite sides of said plate when not in use, and a vane pivoted to said plate and extendable at right angles thereto.

FRED P. RIDDELL. 

